Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-11-18

the headquarters OF the nrSt CLASS. Otner
rooms were soon after finished, and the
whole edihce so far completed, that when
the first public procession, at the com
mencement in 1904, marched from its
walls, it left the edlfice in such state OF
forwardness, rs to give evidence OF Its
immediate completion. 1t was subse-
uuently finished at the close of 1907 under
the personal direction aud agency OF the
late Daniel Hurlburt, one of the pioneers
of Burlington, a man of great energy OF
character, and unbounded resources for
the practical development of the capabili-
ties of Burlington.
v hat is now the college park, so well
enclosed and adorned with trees, and
shrubbery, was then chiefly covered with
the trunks of the original pines, felled
and subsequently cut and burned, mostly
by the students. ! cannot forbear from
quoting in this connection the remarks of
Judge Williamson of the class OF lSl2, at
the semi-centennisl celebration of the
university.
"The old college which was burnt was Il
beautiful specimen OF architecture. Yet The
floors were in II rough, orphaned state, nor
did any carpet grace any of the nails or stu
dents roous and doubt whether there Were
many in town. | well rccollect that on all Oc-
casions of commenccments and public cx-
hibitions we were indebted TO Col. Butl Tor his
parlor carpet. 1t was of noble size and more
than covered the area of the STAGE and
many Grafton and poem, conference and
pet to an admitting audience. But very few
houses had ever felt the painters brush.
Neither the college nor presidents house had
ever been painted, at least their exterior.
The old court house where all the commence
mcnt exercises had been h, Id till 1Sl2-retain-
ed its sun burnt, dingy color when turned
my back upon ii in 1872.
But with all these defects. burlington was
the most beautiful spot for literary instl-
tuition that ever the sun shone upon ! shall
never forget the impress ion it made upon
my mind, as | approached it for the first time
to enter the freshman class in 1908. The town
was situated on gentle dCclivlty. ON the
background stood the stately college edtice
with It's IL Chimnies and tower in the centre
In front was spread out the broad bosom of
the lake, now whitened by the canvas, of
soop now dotted by the old steamer YER
mont, as she pouRhed through the deep on
her weekly trips between Whitehall ana 1T.
Johns. This was again skrted by the dense
forests of Peru. On the south was stretched
along the sunny fertile fields of good old Shell
burn and Charlotte, and on the east thunder
ed the falls of Colchester, and to render the
scenery more enchanting were seen in the
distance the SUBMITS of the ever green noun
tans. To-day how much has the hand of art
and wealth done to embelsh and improve
the picture. The stumpy common in front of
the college is converted into beautiful park,
and magnificent public and private edtces
with tasteful gardens and shrubbery and trees
meet the eye at every turn. Amidst all these
have arisen your churches, the glory and
beauty of New England and to crown the
whole the waters of this lake have become
consecrated by the splendid victory at Platts-
burgh. Surely if here are not materials for
the Inspiration of the poet, then there is no
such thing as inspiration"
Academical instruction, says Mr..
Adams, was commenced at the opening
OF this century by the preparatory teach
ing of some 10 or Is young men in bnild-
lug call d the PRESIDENT house, little
north of the present college building ION
the site of the present museum and art
gallery building 1851
I,, ~ f,I1 e ho EY..t all
ganized consisting of 10 or r. and thus
the college may be said to have commenc-
ed a practical existence. or that number
Jairus KEENAN,, Wheeler Barnes and
Charles Adams were part. In 1902, JUS
tus p. Wheeler a student at Williams col
lege joined our number, and his standing
in Williams, being one year in advance o.
ours, Doctor Sanders proposed to KEENAN,,
Barns and myself to advance rs so that
with Mr.. Wheeler we might (from Au-
gust 1902 form the junior class. To this
objection was made, but Doctor Sanders
said that as our met ms were limited he
thought it would be better for us to be-
come men first, and wise afterwards, and
this arrangement prevailed and we be.
came juniors by brevet," as our young
friends loosely said.
The experiment of rushing young men
through college, always hazardous, has
lost none of its force in our case, and 80
conviction that the experiment of making
men prematurely is ever dangerous one.
United to the fact of our poverty, Doctor
Sanders may have entertained the project
as the best practical mode of calling atten-
ton to the actual existence of the college,
THE FIRST LITERARY SOCIETY.
Soon after the formation of our class,
the four, in conjunction with six others
united to form literary society for the
purpose of improvement IN speaking ard
mutual aid in our studies. The 10 joined
in the formation of constitution of a So
ciety to which was given the baptismal
name t Phi Sigma M. And thus in
augurated the first literary society in the
university. In connection herewith we
commenced library, by paying each II
and sent the $40 to Boston and Herewith
purchased the 10 volumes of Rollins s An
| Gent History.
In the formation of the society we were
considerably influenced by Mr. Wheeler
| who had had considerable experience in
the matter Of defamation at Williams
and was naturally a fine declaimer, and
was very serviceable to us.
Mr. KEENAN, was elected the first presi.
dent, and under his able direction the so
| ciety became to us an interesting place OF
weekly resort. About this time our mum
| Der was increased by the addition Of six
young gentlemen from the east side OF the
State, whose preparatory studies had
been conducted by Rev. Mr.. Gross. Some
of these gentlemen subsequently became
distinguished in public life Two of them,
i. C. Gross and James Strong of the class
of 1906, were members of Congress from
New York, Mr. Gross was man of in
genuity and had INSTRUCTED an "orrery, u
which he presented To the college and
which at that time was our philosophical
apparatus. Another was Amariah Chand
Ter class of 1900 subsequently distin-
guished doctor in divinity. | mention
him for the sake uf al anecdote of the
olden time-the FAC of carrying the
shoes in the hand while going to recita
ton. Others have claimed to have done
this but ! know that Chandler did it.
1t may be that the greatest difference be
tween Chandler and others, arose from
the fact that he had shoes to carry.
THE FIRST COMMENCEMENT.
The first commencement was celebrated
on the Sd day of August, 1904, and from
the fact that college commencement wa.
then a new thing, it excited great atten
ton and drew together concourse o